CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Public Affairs- Media and Cultural Section
Information Resource Center, Embassy Bangkok
@IRC
Tel: 02-205-4113 ▪ Fax: 02-650-8918 ▪ E-mail: irc@state.gov
CITIZEN JOURNALISM
JUNE 2009
"Citizen Journalism is shorthand for a collection of methods for producing content
by harnessing the power of a site’s community of readers, and making it a key element
of the site’s editorial output. These engaged readers can, among other things, recommend
stories, produce raw data for original reported stories, write original stories themselves, record
exclusive in-the-field video, search through large amounts of data or documents for hidden
gems and trends, and much more. By tapping this resource, online news sites can
extend their reach and help redefine newsgathering in the digital age."
-- Arianna Huffington, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post, May 6, 2009
ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
“Citizen-Powered Journalism Fills a Void”
Angelo Fernando. Communication World, January/February 2008, 2 pages.
The author examines the advent of citizen journalism and how this new form of
hybrid, grassroots, open-source, participatory reporting has left its mark on the
business of news. The author offers tips for news sites to engage citizen
journalists ranging from pure open-source, unedited formats to those that are
moderated and edited. The author also looks at sites that combine engagement
with both amateur and professional journalists. Full text is available upon
request.
"Community Blogging: The New Wave of Citizen Journalism"
Julie Fanselow. National Civic Review, Winter 2008, 6 pages.
The author discusses the role of community blogging in local communities and its impact on
traditional journalism, focusing on a community blog called Locally Grown Northfield, which aims
to create positive changes among rural and reservation communities across seven states in the
United States. Full text is available upon request.
“The New Journalism: It's Audience Participation Time”
Ron Miller. EContent, July/August 2008, 5 pages.
In citizen journalism, citizens not only consume the news, they help produce it. The author
examines the emergence of citizen journalism and explores some community journalism web
sites. Full text is available upon request.
“The Bigger Tent”
Ann Cooper. Columbia Journalism Review, September/October 2008, 3 pages.
Freedom of the press now belongs not just to those who own printing presses, but also to those
who use cell phones, video cameras, blogging software, and other technology to deliver news and
views to the world. The author examines the nature of journalism in the internet era and
discusses how the tent of American journalism must be made larger to accommodate these
newcomers and their new ideas. Full text is available upon request.
“7 Things You Should Know About Citizen Journalism”
EDUCAUSE. November 2007, 2 pages.
This publication takes a brief, yet informative look at citizen journalism answering
the questions: What it is, where it is going, what are the downsides, and why it
matters to teaching and learning. Full text is available upon request.
ONLINE READING
"The Wisdom of the Crowd Resides in How the Crowd Is Used"
Jeff Howe. Nieman Reports, Winter 2008, 4 pages.
The possibility of harnessing the resources of many individuals to
produce reporting to supplement that of traditional journalists has
moved from theory to practice. The author examines citizen
journalism and its use by traditional mass media and online journalism
outlets.
Full text is available at: http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100695
“Using Expertise From Outside the Newsroom”
Wells, Betty. Nieman Reports, Spring 2008, 3 pages.
The article examines the use of “crowdsourcing,” a news gathering process that meshes
information provided by citizen journalists with that of what reporters. The efforts of a locally-
based news initiative, “Team Watchdog,” is presented as an example of how crowdsourcing can
used to expand and strengthen community news reporting.
Full text is available at: http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100085
“Tips about Starting a Hyperlocal Web Site”
Jan Schaffer. Nieman Reports, Winter 2007, 2 pages.
The author offers a list of recommendations for persons wishing to launch a “hyperlocal” news
website for their social network and/or community.
Full text is available at: http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100185
“Citizen Journalism Publishing Standards”
The Huffington Post, April 14, 2009, 3 pages.
This news website, known for its sharp political commentary, presents
its own citizen journalism publishing standards, offering nine helpful tips
on how to ensure one’s work will get published on The Huffington Post.
Full text is available at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/07/citizen-journalism-publis_n_184075.html
ADDITIONAL WEB RESOURCES:
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
http://www.j-lab.org/
The Poynter Institute for New Media
http://www.poynter.org
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu
The Knight Digital Media Center
http://www.knightdigitalmediacenter.org/
The Knight Citizen News Network
http://www.kcnn.org
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/social-media/citizen-journalism/
Project for Excellence in Journalism
http://journalism.org
Note: The views and opinions expressed in these articles and websites are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect U.S. government policies. Non-U.S. government articles may be
copyrighted and subjected to the terms of use as specified by the copyright owner.